The Best Tech Gifts For Everyone On Your Holiday List

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—to gift your friends and family (and yes, even yourself) some tech. Whether they’re training for a marathon, perpetually binging podcasts and TV shows, or they spend as much time on a plane as they do on the ground, there’s a gift for everyone on your list this holiday season. Here are our 12 favourite tech gifts to give this year.

The Best Tech Gifts 2024

For the fitness freak in your life: Apple Watch Series 9, $429

There’s little by way of fitness metrics that the Apple Watch doesn’t track: heart rate variability, steps, calories and the all-important VO2 max. On the flipside, downtime is tracked meticulously in the watch’s sleep features—including a brand-new sleep apnea detector (a condition that women are largely underdiagnosed with). The wearable is now even smart enough to tell you when it’s time to cool it on the exercise with the training load feature, which uses an algorithm and your fitness data to determine how workouts are affecting your energy levels. Don’t forget to toss in one of the many sweat-resistant bands available to complete the gift.

For the friend resolving to walk 10,000 steps a day: FitBit Inspire 3, $130

For a more budget wearable option, the FitBit Inspire 3 offers up a ton of fitness features—including step count, heart rate and blood oxygen levels—in a much smaller, much cheaper package than the Apple Watch. It also boasts a seriously impressive 10-day battery life, an easy-to-read, large-type display face, and three fun watch-strap colourways to choose from.

For the bookworm: Kobo Libra Colour, $250

The latest version of this Canadian-made e-reader features, at long last, a glare-free colour display. That means multi-coloured highlighting options and marginalia, plus the newfound ability to read graphic novels in all of their bright-hued glory. The Libra Colour also comes packed with its usual features: functionality to purchase ebooks from Canadian retailers like Indigo and Chapters, as well as the ability to borrow from your local library with OverDrive and read saved articles (like their favourite Chatelaine features!) in Pocket.

For the wannabe TikToker: Octobuddy, $18

Our senior beauty editor swears by this iPhone accessory, which adheres to the back of your phone and uses suction cups to stick it to pretty much any surface—from mirrors to computer screens to desks. Use it to film yourself in selfie mode (or if making TikToks isn’t their thing, they can use the Octobuddy for hands-free FaceTimes).

For the frequent flyer: Bose QuietComfort Noise-Cancelling Wireless Headphones, $480

The Bose QuietComfort has long been the go-to pair of headphones for travellers, and for good reason: its noise reduction features cannot be matched. Listeners can toggle between active and quiet modes, drowning out noise on a flight or train ride with the push of a button. These Bluetooth headphones also nestle perfectly into a hard-shell carrying case that can easily slip into a carry-on bag, and a single charge will last 24 hours—perfect for their next red-eye.

For the podcast binger: Soundcore by Anker Space One Headphones, $100

If your gift recipient doesn’t need the all-encompassing noise cancellation of the Bose QuietComfort headphones (they’re just trying to listen to their favourite true crime podcast at the noisy office!), these lightweight, budget over-ear headphones might be a better pick. Reviewers especially praised its built-in microphone, which works well for Zoom or conference calls, and the surprisingly high-quality feel of the headphones despite their low cost. Pick them up in their favourite of three colourways—our favourite is Latte Cream.

For the commuter: Soundcore by Anker P2 Mini True Wireless Earbuds, $45

So your gift recipient has no time or patience to set up high-fidelity, noise-cancelling headphones—they just need something to block out the sounds of their daily commute. These tiny, slip-’em-in-your-pocket-on-your-way-to-work earbuds fit the bill: they’re no fuss, easy to connect to any Bluetooth device, and come with a wireless fast-charging case. They also sound great for the budget price and their size (seriously, they only weigh four grams!).

For the loved one who needs a computer upgrade: ASUS Zenbook S 14" Touchscreen 2-in-1 Laptop in Zumaia Grey, $1,799.99

For those who want to balance the performance of a laptop with the touch-screen functionality of a tablet, the Zenbook S 14 is a new-era ASUS AI PC that combines an exceptionally slim design with cutting-edge technology. This is a 14” laptop that packs a tech punch thanks to its Intel Core Ultra 5 (Series 2) processor, Fast-Charge technology, 3K ASUS Lumina OLED display and four-speaker audio system. Plus, truly leverage AI performance for tasks like productivity assistance, text and image creation, faster photo and video editing, and built-in security protections.

For the downsizer: iPad 10, $499

If they don’t need the functionality—or the bulk—of a traditional laptop or desktop computer, consider the iPad 10. It can tackle most daily tasks—from editing documents to answering emails to streaming your favourite shows—in a super slim (as in, mere millimetres thin), light (just over a pound!), very fast package. (Bonus perk: Readers can also borrow books from their local library on the iPad, like the Kobo, using the Overdrive app.)

For the binge-watcher: Amazon Fire HD Tablet, $190

At less than half the cost of an iPad 10, the Amazon Fire Tablet excels specifically at streaming media—whether it’s your favourite YouTuber or the Prime Video series you can’t stop watching (or, let’s be real, the latest season of Love is Blind). Boasting a 13-hour battery life and two options for ample storage, this lightweight tablet is a handy portable media hub at home and on the go.

For your friend with a perpetually dead phone: INIU Power Bank, $30

Whether they’re on the road or they just forgot to charge their phone overnight, a sturdy, high-speed power bank is a cheap but incredibly useful gift. (BYO chargers are also better for cyber security than plugging into public USB ports.) This charging bank from INIU is small enough to fit in most bags or purses, and it can charge most smartphones up to 78 percent in just under an hour.

For the friend with an overflowing to-do list: Amazon Echo Pop, $55

I use the Amazon Echo Pop on my nightstand as an alarm clock, but its built-in Alexa AI features make this tiny desktop speaker a virtual assistant at a very low cost. Ask Alexa to set reminders, build your grocery list, make a hands-free call or stream your favourite working playlist. It’ll all sync to an app on your phone, too, so any lists or reminders are available when you’re out and about. Pick from lavender, teal, black or white colourways.

For the hostess: JBL Go 4, $70

This Bluetooth speaker is small enough to fit in your purse, but it still packs a serious punch. Reviewers praised the speaker’s clear, even sound, and were pleasantly surprised by how loud it could get. Bring it out for the next dinner party (and again while you’re doing the dishes).